Omaha - The Urban League of Nebraska, Inc., the University
of Nebraska Foundation and the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) College
of Business Administration are again joining together to hold the Black
Executive Exchange Program (BEEP) in Omaha. The four-day long series of
seminars, meetings and receptions is set for Feb 28-March 3. Title sponsors
for the series are ConAgra Foods and Union Pacific.

"BEEP has become an event that the Urban League, the
university and—most importantly—the community all look forward to," said
Marilyn McGary president and chief executive officer for the Urban League
of Nebraska Inc. "The vision of BEEP is to be the instrument through
which African-American college students reach their full potential."

Developed by the National Urban League in 1969, BEEP addresses
the need for quality education for African-American students interested
in both the public and private sectors. Since its inception, the program
has:

• Augmented
the curricula at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with
more industry and government-related courses;

• Supplemented
college faculty with rotating teams of African-American executives and
professionals for business and government;

• Enlightened
students and faculty about job opportunities, current and future business
trends, policies and patterns; and

• Established
and maintained a free-flowing exchange between public and private sector
employers to attract support for faculty and student development, educational
programs and financial endeavors.

Today, African-American executives and professionals from more
than 600 corporations, government agencies and professional organizations
participate in BEEP at a national level. In Omaha, expectations are that
more than 500 students will hear at least one BEEP presenter this year. More
than 30 local professionals have volunteered to speak at the various BEEP
events. (A list of presenters will be sent out at a future date.)

This is the third year for BEEP at UNO. UNO remains the first
predominantly white institution in the nation to participate in the BEEP
program.

"The role of a metropolitan university is to actively
engage the community," said Nancy Belck, UNO chancellor. "BEEP
connects students and local business people in a positive and unique way
that benefits everyone. It has been a model event for UNO."

Union Pacific will host the kickoff BEEP event Feb. 28 at
its downtown headquarters, 1400 Douglas St., starting at 6 p.m. BEEP presenters,
known as "BEEPers," will hear from Charles Richardson, past BEEP
national director for the Urban League, at the reception. Sessions on
March 1-3 will include résumé reviews, discussions about the transition
to life beyond college and a special session for high school students and
their parents on higher education issues and concerns.

"All of what we're doing is providing an avenue for
the exchange of information for students who may not otherwise have the
opportunity to engage in or experience this sort of dialogue with African-American
leaders or mentors," McGary said.

Louis Pol, dean of the UNO College of Business Administration,
said the program will allow the university to:

• Provide
all students with positive African-American role models who have achieved
measurable success in a variety of careers;

• Present
primarily under-represented students with a realistic view of life, including
expected participation and behavior, after graduation;

• Augment
faculty teaching strengths with visits from local African-American executives
and professionals from the public/private sectors;

• Provide
opportunities for all college students to bridge the career planning gap
and prepare them for diversity in the workplace; and

• Foster
and establish new lines of communication and partnership among the College
of Business Administration and local businesses, industry and government
to better prepare students for a new wave of careers and professions.

"BEEP continues to be a program that provides a great
deal of insight and meaning to students," Pol said. "We're excited
to be part of this important and innovative program."

Corporate sponsors for BEEP include
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Nebraska, First Data, First National Bank,
The Gallup Organization, Mutual of Omaha and Wells Fargo.

For more information on events or
to volunteer as a "BEEPer," call (402) 554-3502.